Center for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry

Psychiatric Torture

In solidarity with all victims, survivors and resisters

June 26 is the International Day in Solidarity with Victims of Torture.

In May 2013, I asked survivors, resisters and allies (I consider that all who are alive are survivors, we remember the victims who did not survive psychiatric torture) to join me on June 26 in writing blogs and statements or conducting other activities in solidarity with all victims, survivors and resisters of psychiatric torture. Here is one of the notices posted by a colleague.

Tina Minkowitz has proposed that we use June 26 as a day to write blogs and statements on psychiatric torture. This can be done as a response to or reflection on the UN rapporteur on torture's recommendations that forced psychiatric treatment of all kind be banned, or however you might think to raise awareness on the topic. "What is the value of naming nonconsensual interventions as torture," Tina asks, "and what are the implications of doing so?"

The Special Rapporteur on Torture in March 2013 called for an absolute ban on nonconsensual psychiatric interventions, including restraint, solitary confinement, and nonconsensual administration of electroshock, psychosurgery and mind-altering drugs such as neuroleptics. He also urged repeal of legal provisions authorizing confinement and compulsory treatment in mental health settings, and said that detention on mental health grounds is unjustified. See the statement of the Special Rapporteur, his report, and the response by the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, along with a call to action by CHRUSP. Note that the statement revises certain inconsistent positions that were left in the report.

Here are the responses. Remember to breathe when reading these accounts, especially the personal stories.

Peru has enacted the first legal capacity reform that complies with CRPD in its overall approach, despite flaws as indicated in the commentary by Sodis (civil society organization that worked on the reform).

CHRUSP is looking for new board members to join us in building and expanding our work beyond present capabilities. Please read the notice in pdf and word to learn more.

Campaign to Support CRPD Absolute Prohibition of Commitment and

In early 2016 we created an exciting initiative to support CRPD Articles 12 and 14, and the CRPD Committee's interpretations establishing an absolute prohibition of commitment and forced treatment. Over 40 participants in Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia and Asia wrote blog posts addressing the significance of the absolute prohibition as survivors, allies, relatives, researchers, activists, and lawyers. Blog posts are compiled at http://absoluteprohibition.org.

When the Campaign ended, participants wanted to network and do more. In December 2016 we started connecting by email and teleconferences. It is not clear where the Campaign will go from here, but we hope to foster collaboration and joint projects.

CRPD course

CHRUSP aims to build capacity of users and survivors of psychiatry and allies to work on CRPD implementation and monitoring/enforcement from a position of knowledge and understanding. Tina Minkowitz, CHRUSP President and Founder, has created a CRPD course from a survivor perspective that is offered online and via webinar. Please see http://crpdcourse.org for information.

CRPD Committee General Comment on Legal Capacity

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2014 issued General Comment No. 1 on Article 12, saying that mental capacity cannot justify a removal of legal capacity and that we have legal capacity at all times including in crisis situations. It declares that forced psychiatric interventions always violate Article 12 and infringe the right to be free from torture and ill-treatment. Read here

CRPD Committee Guidelines on Article 14

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2015 issued Guidelines on Article 14, liberty and security of the person, which develop in many dimensions the premise that involuntary internment and involuntary treatment in mental health services are prohibited. The Guidelines join General Comment No. 1 as major statements by the CRPD Committee that uphold the right to be treated equally in law and society in all respects, of users and survivors of psychiatry/ people with psychosocial disabilities.

US CRPD ratification, RUDs

This is the current version of reservations, understandings and declarations (RUDs) to the CRPD approved by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee a few years ago. In 2017 it is not likely that the current Administration or Congress will ratify any human rights treaties, so for the time being ratification is on hold. The RUDs significantly lower the value of CRPD ratification to users and survivors of psychiatry; there are complex ways they can play out. See our US CRPD and human rights reporting page for more information.